Comparison

SWAM Viola vs Chorus Lesson

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

SWAM Viola

This virtual instrument uses physical modeling to generate realistic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your playing style. It offers advanced spatial control with a built-in room simulator and can be used standalone or as an AUv3 plugin. Designed for expressive control, it's suitable for various musical styles and accessible to visually impaired users.

Highlights
  • Physical modeling sound generation
  • Real-time dynamic response
  • Built-in Room Simulator (Ambiente)
  • Standalone and AUv3 plugin support
  • Intuitive interface for all users
  • MPE and MIDI controller support
  • Customizable timbre, vibrato, and dynamics
Read full description

SWAM Viola for iOS: Unmatched Realism and Expressive Power in Your Hands Experience the cutting-edge Physical Modeling technology of SWAM Viola for iOS, now featuring the revolutionary Room Simulator "Ambiente"! Unlike sampled libraries, this virtual instrument doesn’t play pre-recorded sounds but generates authentic string performances in real-time, responding dynamically to your every nuance, just like a real violist. These instruments are NOT sample libraries. Unlike sampling, which uses recordings to replicate the sound of an instrument, physical modeling doesn’t generate a sound as such but creates the conditions for the system to create it according to an external input (like someone playing on a keyboard). This means every note is unique, and the instrument responds dynamically to your playing style. With SWAM Viola, you can unleash your creativity across any musical style—from classical to modern, film scoring to microtonal music. Whether you're performing live or producing music on the go, SWAM Viola is your ultimate companion. New Features and Key Benefits: Room Simulator "Ambiente": Take advantage of advanced spatial control with the built-in Room Simulator "Ambiente," which allows you to position the instrument in a realistic acoustic space, interact dynamically with other SWAM instruments in the same virtual room, and create truly immersive performances. Additionally, the legacy Reverb, EQ, and Compressor effects are available for fine-tuning your sound. Standalone and AUv3 Plugin: Perform in real time or integrate SWAM Viola seamlessly into your mobile production workflow. Intuitive, Inclusive Interface: Designed for everyone, including blind and visually impaired users. Expressive Control: Play with unmatched expressivity using the exclusive virtual bowing surface, MPE controllers, keyboards, breath controllers, or other MIDI devices. Top Features at a Glance: Access a library of presets, create your own, or import presets from the desktop version. Customize every detail of your sound, including timbre, vibrato, and dynamics. Micro-tune the instrument with the Pitch Manager, supporting devices like MAQAM for advanced tuning systems. Add built-in effects like EQ, and Compressor. Play with different viola bodies to explore unique tonal variations. Use AUv3 to integrate with your mobile DAW (Logic, Cubasis, AUM) or apps like Camelot PRO for live performances. Who is SWAM Viola for iOS Designed For? Wind Controller Players: Looking for a mobile setup to perform live without needing a computer while still achieving an incredible sound. Keyboard Players: Frustrated by the limited expressive capabilities of normal sample-based plugins? SWAM Viola unlocks the full range of expression. Music Producers: Need a mobile setup to produce music from anywhere without carrying around expensive gear? SWAM Viola is the solution. Musicians Seeking Expressivity: Looking for a virtual instrument that allows you to express the full range of your musicality easily on your iPhone or iPad. IMPORTANT: To fully harness the expressive power of SWAM Viola, a controller capable of continuous expression (such as a breath controller, expression pedal, MPE device, or wind controller) is required. Just like a bow is essential for a real violist, SWAM Viola needs expressive input for maximum realism. With SWAM Viola for iOS, you have the freedom to create lifelike string performances on your iPhone or iPad. Redefine your music with unparalleled realism and expressive depth—anytime, anywhere.

About

Chorus Lesson

This app functions as a MIDI player designed for personal choral practice. It allows users to isolate individual parts, adjust volume and panning, and change playback speed for tailored practice sessions. Standard MIDI files can be played, with additional song data available for purchase.

Highlights
  • MIDI player for choral practice
  • Mute, solo, volume, panning per part
  • Adjustable playback speed
  • Play standard MIDI files
  • Purchase song data in-app
Features
Read full description

Chorus Lesson is a kind of MIDI player, build for the use of personal lesson of chorus. The app allows you set mute, soloed, volume, panning and instrument for each part. You may check your melody line by enabling only your part. Then, sing hearing the overall flow and sound of other parts. You may also change the playing speed, you can practice your part carefully at your suitable tempo. You can play standard MIDI files with this app. In addition, we have a Song Data Shop in this app. You can purchase and download song data in-app purchase. These songs in the shop are originally created for use with this app. Currently, the number of songs is small, but we will gradually increase it. * Some MIDI files may not be played well because of too many parts in the file. We assume a midi file contains five to six parts of SATB and accompaniment piano + some more parts. And we recommend MIDI file of format type 1, although you may still use type 0. Interchangeablitiy: We have tested MIDI files generated by applications belows and some unknown apps. Finale(mac) Notion(iPad) Nanostudio2(iPad) Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SWAM Viola4 screens
Chorus Lesson4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: SWAM Viola at 100% against Chorus Lesson's 0%. SWAM Viola also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 10) and device support (3 vs 1). Chorus Lesson's advantage is price ($2.99 vs $29.99) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks). On ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

SWAM Viola costs $29.99 and Chorus Lesson $2.99 up front. Chorus Lesson sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. SWAM Viola asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SWAM Viola ships an update every 5 weeks, Chorus Lesson every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
SWAM Viola versus Chorus Lesson: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSWAM ViolaChorus Lesson
Price$29.99$2.99 — better
Rating4.3 (6 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings6 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size103 MB228 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAudio ModelingNOKKEUSI Inc.

Customer experience

SWAM Viola

All ratings6 ratings
Positive83.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative16.7%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Chorus Lesson

Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

SWAM Viola

No in-app purchases

10 purchases

Chorus Lesson

One-time10
  • 30-days Trial for freeFree
  • BWV227 All throughFree
  • BWV226-1 Bars 1-145Free
Show 7 more
  • Trial for 14 daysFree
  • BWV226-2 Bars146-244$0.99
  • BWV226-3 Bars245-268$0.99
  • BWV226 Complete set$0.99
  • BWV225 Complete set$0.99
  • BWV228; Fürchte dich nicht,...$0.99
  • BWV229; Komm, Jesu, komm$0.99

Questions

Is SWAM Viola free?
SWAM Viola costs $29.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Chorus Lesson free?
Chorus Lesson costs $2.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Do SWAM Viola or Chorus Lesson have ads?
Neither SWAM Viola nor Chorus Lesson shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SWAM Viola or Chorus Lesson?
SWAM Viola ships an update every 5 weeks, and Chorus Lesson every 2 weeks. Most recently, SWAM Viola was updated on October 25, 2026 and Chorus Lesson on October 27, 2026.

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